Anthony Russo's view is straightforward: DJ Hicks looks like a strong candidate to break out for Texas A&M in 2026. With the senior defensive tackle entering his final season in College Station, the question is no longer whether he belongs in the rotation. It is how far his game can go after the strides he made in 2025.
That matters because Texas A&M are heading into a season where the interior of the defense could become a major talking point. Hicks earned his starting spot in the 2024 season, then backed that up with a career year in 2025, finishing with 26 tackles, four sacks and 15 pressures. For a former five-star recruit from the 2023 recruiting class, that is the kind of progression that starts to shift expectations.
Russo sees the next step coming
Russo called Hicks a “strong candidate” to be a breakout player, and that assessment fits the trajectory. Hicks has already gone from prospect to starter to productive interior presence. The next stage is whether he can turn that production into the kind of disruptive impact that changes how opponents plan for Texas A&M.
There is also a timing element here. Last month at SEC Media Days, Mike Elko made it clear how much he thinks Hicks means to this team, saying the 2026 season is “DJ Hicks' time.” That is not the kind of language coaches use lightly. It suggests the staff sees a player who is close to reaching his elite potential.
Why Hicks has become such a key figure
The appeal is not difficult to see. Hicks made significant strides during Texas A&M's historic 2025 season, and the numbers show real progress rather than empty promise. Four sacks and 15 pressures from the interior is a strong return, especially when paired with 26 tackles and the responsibility that comes with being a starter.
What makes him more interesting now is that the final version of his college career should be the most complete. He has the size, the pedigree and the recent production. If the breakout happens, it will likely come from a player who is already trusted to handle big minutes and who has started to turn recruiting reputation into actual defensive value.
The final season in College Station
Texas A&M do not need Hicks to become a different player. They need him to become a more consistent one. If he can build on what he did in 2025, the Aggies will have one of the more reliable interior defenders in the SEC and a player with a real case to climb into the 2027 NFL Draft conversation.
Russo's call is important because it reflects what the numbers already suggest: Hicks is no longer just a name with upside. He is someone the Aggies can reasonably expect to take the next step. And if Elko is right that this is his time, then the 2026 season could be the one that defines both Hicks' college career and Texas A&M's defensive ceiling.
